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Waiting for Godot

post #1 of 7
11/1/08 at 2:58pm
Thread Starter 
Since this is also our unofficial play thread, thought I would post up this news about Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart doing Waiting for Godot:

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Sir Ian McKellen is to tread the boards next year with X-Men co-star Patrick Stewart in a new staging of Samuel Beckett's 1955 play Waiting for Godot.

The production, which will be directed by Sean Mathias, will tour the UK before opening in London in April at the Theatre Royal Haymarket.

Stewart will play the tramp Vladimir, while Sir Ian will play Estragon.
Found this through The Beat.

I would love to find a DVD of the version starring Steve Martin and Robing Williams with Bill Irwin. I believe Minke Nichols was involved with it as well.
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post #2 of 7
11/1/08 at 3:24pm
Nathan Lane and Bill Irwin are in the upcoming Broadway production. Want. And I think the Nichols-directed production you mentioned is available somewhere. I've seen clips of it.
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post #3 of 7
11/1/08 at 4:00pm
Thread Starter 
I saw clips on a piece about Bill Irwin. But I have yet to find a copy of it.
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post #4 of 7
11/1/08 at 4:30pm
Most major productions are taped for the Performing Arts library/archives in New York. I'm betting that's where it came from.
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post #5 of 7
11/1/08 at 5:10pm
I just read this. Twice. It seems to be 100% symbolic, which means you have to "get" it to be entertained. Does it come across differently when you watch it? Not trying to be snide. I'm seriously trying to figure out why this play is so loved because I found it impossible to enjoy.
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post #6 of 7
11/12/08 at 5:26pm
It can be an absorbing and extremely funny play in performance. I've been fortunate to see two excellent productions, one directed by Brian Bedford for the Stratford Festival in Ontario, and the second directed and performed by graduate students.

During both productions the audience appeared to be fully engaged by the story and characters, and frequently doubled over with laughter.

Beckett's plays need to be seen rather than simply read. His stage directions are spare, and I've always had problems hearing the right tone and inflection of his dialogue.
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post #7 of 7
11/12/08 at 5:57pm
For some long forgotten reason I've got my high school copy of the book in my office. At some point in my fifteenth year I tried to make sense of Lucky's speech by underlining words and phrases that, though in order, were separated by additional text:

Lucky: Given the existence...of a personal God...who...loves us dearly...and suffers...with those who...are plunged in torment...it is established beyond all doubt..that man...

Evidently I gave up at that point. Someday I'd like to see the play.
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